Production Planning Manager

Apex Resource Management; Daventry; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Resource Management is seeking an experienced Operations Planning Manager to lead production planning and scheduling in a premium automotive environment near Daventry, ensuring demand, manufacturing capability and supply chain performance stay aligned and drive world-class operational results.

You will own short, medium and long term plans, lead S&OP, manage capacity constraints, and champion Lean, Six Sigma and digital transformation initiatives across manufacturing, engineering, logistics

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Operations Planning Manager, Production Planning Manager or similar.
• Strong background in automotive manufacturing or a complex manufacturing environment.
• Experience with production planning, scheduling, capacity planning, S&OP, ERP and MRP systems.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
• A continuous improvement mindset with knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage short, medium and long-term production plans.
• Create and maintain daily, weekly and monthly production schedules.
• Balance capacity, labour, equipment and material availability.
• Lead S&OP and production review meetings.
• Identify capacity constraints and develop contingency plans.
• Maintain ERP and MRP planning data and parameters.
• Monitor planning performance, schedule adherence and production efficiency.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support advanced planning systems and digital transformation projects.
• Act as the key planning interface between customers and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Operations Planning Manager

Production Planning Manager

Production Scheduling

Automotive Manufacturing

Capacity Planning

S&OP

ERP

MRP

Manufacturing Planning

Supply Chain

Resource Planning

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Continuous Improvement

Operational Excellence

Job description

Operations Planning Manager wanted to join a premium automotive team near Daventry to drive manufacturing excellence in Automotive Production!

Are you an experienced Operations Planning Manager looking to make a real impact within a fast-paced automotive manufacturing environment?

We're recruiting for a key leadership role where you'll take ownership of production planning, capacity management and scheduling, ensuring customer demand, manufacturing capability and supply chain performance remain aligned. You'll play a pivotal role in driving operational efficiency, supporting business growth and delivering world-class manufacturing performance.

Why Join?

• Lead production planning within a dynamic automotive manufacturing operation.
• Influence strategic capacity, resource and demand planning.
• Work closely with manufacturing, engineering, logistics, purchasing and supply chain teams.
• Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
• Support new product launches and digital transformation projects.
• Make a visible impact on business performance and customer delivery.

Key Responsibilities as the Operations Planning Manager

• Develop and manage short, medium and long-term production plans.
• Create and maintain daily, weekly and monthly production schedules.
• Balance capacity, labour, equipment and material availability.
• Lead S&OP and production review meetings.
• Identify capacity constraints and develop contingency plans.
• Maintain ERP and MRP planning data and parameters.
• Monitor planning performance, schedule adherence and production efficiency.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support advanced planning systems and digital transformation projects.
• Act as the key planning interface between customers and internal stakeholders.

About You

You will have:

• Proven experience as an Operations Planning Manager, Production Planning Manager or similar.
• Strong background in automotive manufacturing or a complex manufacturing environment.
• Experience with production planning, scheduling, capacity planning, S&OP, ERP and MRP systems.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
• A continuous improvement mindset with knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles.

Key Skills: Operations Planning Manager, Production Planning Manager, Production Scheduling, Automotive Manufacturing, Capacity Planning, S&OP, ERP, MRP, Manufacturing Planning, Supply Chain, Resource Planning, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence.